Youth

We know more than ever about how to help children who have suffered abuse and trauma.

(Reposted guest blog post for M.J Murdock’s Thoughts From The Road)

The headline stuck in my head. “Malnourished 5-year old girl found locked in closet under stairs.” It was like a second round of mortar piercing my heart following a news story I happened to read a few weeks earlier: “Thousands of child sex abuse photos found on Wilsonville man’s phone.”

These are not stories I seek out. Honestly, I’d prefer to not know of such horrors. But for the past 25 years my career and calling has brought me face to face with the harsh realities many children face. I’ve seen the impact of abuse and neglect firsthand in countless children served through a variety of programs. I’ve stood beside a loved one coming to grips with years of hidden abuse. I’ve seen the crippling effects of trauma on children’s self-esteem, motivation to live, and ability to thrive.

Along the way we’ve learned a lot about the way abuse and neglect affect children. One significant finding came from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)-Kaiser Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. This groundbreaking public health study Continue reading →

I had the honor in March of being a judge for a middle school oratory competition that was put on by a program run by one of my college classmates. It included students from several schools in the city. It has been a few years since I’ve been in a middle school or around middle school students. My middle child is in high school, and my youngest is in elementary school. Continue reading →